Denny Blaine

Renovation, Interior Design

A young couple moving back into the husband’s childhood home—a historic lakefront Tudor with a dark, Gothic interior—had ambitions for a light and bright contemporary environment. Responsibility for a generational change of stewardship brought emotional as well as design challenges, but with respectful intentions the client and design team were able to shift the vocabulary and spirit of the once formal space. Layering the environment with new materials such as marble, bronze and light painted finishes enabled the excessive ornamentation—found in arches, paneling and period tile—to be reimagined. With a focus on comfort, scale and sculptural form, custom contemporary furnishings helped connect the clients’ desire for modern living with the storied history of the home.